In what can only be described as 'epic' - Robin Brownlee makes his inaugural appearance on NationRadio this week. After 25 episodes of refusing to appear as a guest, the legend vaults right into the big chair taking the reins as the host, filling in for Lowetide who is on a well deserved vacation. And he flipped through his rolodex and booked some pretty spectacular guests.

Not one but TWO Edmonton Oilers are on the show this week as Sam Gagner and Ryan Whitney stop by to say hello. Newly re-signed Oilers play by play man Kevin Quinn comes by too, to put the rumours of a multi-million dollar contract to bed. Oh yeah, and Oilers Head Scout Stu MacGregor? He's here too.

Ever hear of Edmonton Oilers Centre Sam Gagner? Yeah, well he is on the show talking about his recovery from hand surgery during the summer, young players in the NHL and the impact of playing weight on performance.

Ryan Whitney plays defense for the Edmonton Oilers. Perhaps you have seen him on the television at some point. In any event he stops by the show to discuss his offseason rehab as well as the state of the Oilers defensive corps. He also looks ahead to the 2011-12 season.

I do countless hours of show prep, round-up guests worth actually talking to, take two hours out of my life I'll never get back and manage not to blow anything up at TEAM studios and I get a ham sandwich for it.

ON fans wait two days, not two hours but two days, for the podcast and the people who deliver it, the same knuckleheads making UNTOLD $$$MILLIONS from my effort -- apparently spending most of their cut on barbituates and truckloads of tequila -- post the same segment multiple times. Staggering ineptitude. Mind-boggling incompetence.

Not bad, Brownlee, not bad at all, well spoken, clear and with no verbal diarhea to cover the wide open spaces. By the way, if anyone's needed to run out to the Shuswap to do any further interviews with MBS, I work cheap!!

...I'm truly impressed with your mastery of the dulcet tones Master Robin...but dammit man, if you were willing to "refuse to be a guest" for that many episodes why didn't you hold out for the upcoming big money that is NATION TV ???...

the Gagner interview in particular was really good, especially the discussion of playing weight. it seems to be taken for granted that more weight is better, but i'm not sure i've ever seen advanced analysis to back that up.

wouldn't mind seeing some stats or advanced stats sorted by weight, to get a better understanding of the overall trends.

Terrific interview with Ryan Whitney, very candid. Whits has quickly become one of my favourite Oilers since the trade. Let's hope he has a healthy and productive season next year.

Also, Brownlee, you should start next week's show with: "K-BILLY's 'Super Sounds of the Seventies Weekend' just keeps on coming with this little ditty. It reached up to 21 in May of 1970. The George Baker Selection: 'Little Green Bag'" Kidding aside, great first show.

For anyone who is interested, check out my blog: http://lavishmactavish.blogspot.com/